Braking system for assisting vehicle steering



Jan. 2, 1945. N, MlLSTER 2,366,207

BRAKING SYSTEM FOR ASSI STING VEHICLE STEERING Filed March 9, 1942 3Sheets-Sheet l FiG l.

INVENTCR IL'STER ATTORNEY AdN.

Jan. 2, 1945. A. N. MILSTER 2,366,207.

BRAKING SYSTEM FOR ASSISTING VEHICLE STEERING Filed March 9, 1942 sSheets-Sheet 2 F IG.3.

FIGA. 2a so 23 I. v I 36 l7 INVENTOR 2 3 .NJMILSTER I B Y I ATTOR NEYJan. 2, 1945. A. N WLST R 2,366,207

BRAKING SYSTEM FOR ASSISTING VEHICLE STEERING- Filed March 9, 1942 5Sheets-Sheet: 3

I NVENTOR A .MILSTER i BY. g

ATTORZEY Figure 1, there is shown inga body I, driving wheels 2 and 3and dirigible wheels 4 and 5.

an arm l0, all wheels'2 and 3 are. provided with brakes I and PatentedJan. 2, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT'eO FFlCE BRAKING SYSTEM FOR ASSISTINGI VEHICLE STEERING Arthur N. Milster, Ferguson,-

Wagner Electric Corporation, corporation of Delaware Mo.,assignor to St.Louis, Mo., a

Ap lication March a, 1942, Serial a 433,931 13 'claims. (on. lac-1s) isoperated and thus aid in turning the vehicle.

Another object of my invention is to embody in the kind of a brakingsystem referred to, means wherebythe vehicle operator can manuallycontrol the braking system as desired and atthe same time prevent saidbraking system from being controlled in any way by the steering of thevehicle.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide additional controlmeans for a braking system of the kind referred to which will automatiqcally prevent said control means, which is normally operative during theturning of the vehicle frorn'being operated whenever a control memberfor driving the vehicle is in. a predetermined position.

Other objects of my invention will-become apparent from the followingdescription taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings in whichFigure l is a top view of a tractor vehicle equipped with a brakingsystem embodying my invention; Figure 2 is a side view .of the controlvalve and associated structure; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectionalview of said control valve;

Figure 4 is another sectional view of the valve,

said view being taken on the lines 4-4 of Figure 1 3 as viewed in thedirection shown by the arrows;

Figure 5 is a side view of a diiferentiy constructed control valve; andFigure 6 is a taken on the lineL-i of Figure 5.

Referring tothe drawings and particularly to a tractor vehicle hav- Thebody has mounted thereon a steering wheel 6 for turning the dirigiblewheels. wheel l being connected to the'steering gear of the steeringwheel by a mechanism comprising a link I and an arm I -and wheel [beingconnected to the steering gear of the steering wheel by a mechanismcomprising a link .9 and in a well-known manner. Driving 12,respectively, which are adapted to be bydraulically actuated by fluidpressure developed by a master cylinder II. The outlet of this mastercylinder is connected to' a conduit M which leads through my improvedcontrol valve mechanism I5 to the conduits l6 and I1 leading to thebrakes on the left and right driving wheels, respectively; The mastercylinder is actuated by a pedal l8 which is connected to the piston rodis of the master cylinder by suitable rods, shafts, and levers generallyindicated by the reference character The tractor is provided with theusual change speed gearing which .is

shifted to its-different speed ratios by a gear shift lever 2i. Thisgear shift lever is so arranged with the change speed gearing that thehigher speed ratios of the gearing are obtained by a rearward movementof the gear shift lever and the other speed ratios by a forwardmovement.

Referring to Figures 2, 3, and 4;, there is shown details of my improvedcontrol valve mechanism. This valve mechanism comprises a casing 22provided with connecting bores 23 and 24. Thecasing 22 is clamped by anut 25 to a suitable mounting bracket 26 carried by the vehicle frame.The

7 upper end of the large bore 23 is closed by a plug 21 screwed intotheend of the bore. The small bore 24 is connected to conduit I 4 leadingfrom the master cylinder and the large bore 23 sectional view faces 38and 40- which .with the annular valve seats 30 and SL'respecis connectedto the conduits l6 and I! by suitable fittings pro] ect into 30 and IIExtending into the bores is a shaft 32, the lower end of whichsnuglyflts the bore 24 in order that said bore may act as a bearing. Theouter end of the shaft which extends through plug :1 is

Journaled in a bearing sleeve 33 carried by said plug. The portion ofthe shaft, in'bore Z3 is provided with across-passage 34 which connectswith an axial bore 35 leading to the end ofthe shaft to thereby placethe large bore in communication with conduit it coming from the mastercylinder; Non-rotatably, mountedon the portion of the shaft in bore]: isasegment member 38 and interposed between this segment member and theplug is a packing element 31 for sealing the shaft at. the plug, saidpacking element being compressed between the plug and the segment memberby a coil spring 38 positioned in the.

axial passage ti and having one end abutting the end of bore 24.

Thesegment member 38 is provided with surare adapted to cooperatetively, carried by the fittings 28v and 29. The segment member is soconstructed that both surfaces and 40 can be simultaneously disengaged 2from the seats with which they cooperate when the shaft is in apredetermined position, as shown ,in Figure 4. When the shaft is rotatedin a counter-clockwise direction from this position,- as viewed from thetop of Figure 4, surface 39 will be placed in engagement with seat 30and thus prevent fluid from flowing out of bore 23 to conduit I6 leadingto the right wheel brake. When the shaft is rotated in a clockwisedirection from the predetermined position, surface 40 will en gage withseat 3| and thus prevent fluid from floowing from bore 23- to conduit l1leading to the left wheel brake.

The extreme outer end of shaft 32 has secured thereto a control handle4|, said handle being in spaced relation to plug 21. The portionofsleeve 33 adjacent plug 2'! has rotatably mounted thereon an arm 42, theouter end of which is connected by means of a rod 43 to arm 8 of theconnecting mechanism between the steering wheel and the right frontwheel 4. The handle 4| has non-rotatably associated therewitha disc 44and a like disc '45 is non-rotatablyassociated with arm 42. These discsare in spaced relation and interposed therebetween is an. annular rubbermember 46, said rubber member being secured tion, as viewed in Figure 1.In order that the threaded plug 49 may be returned to its inoperativeposition and the plunger retracted from opening 53, the arm has.connected thereto a spring 54.

Referring to the operation, the parts of the valve mechanism and thecontrolmeans therefor will be in their positions shown whenever the ingmechanism. The rotation of said segment member, however, will beinsuiiicient to cause shutting oil of either conduit leading to thebrakes as the segment member is so formed that the surfaces thereon willengage. a seat only when to each disc as, for example, by a bonding.process. This annular rubber member establishes a yieldable connectionbetween arm 42 and shaft 32'since disc 45 is secured to the arm and disc44 is-non-rotatably secured to the handle which in turn is'non-rotatably secured to the shaft. Thus if arm 42 is rotated in eitherdirection from its central position corresponding to the straight aheadposition of wheels 4 and 5, as shown in Figure 4, force can betransmitted through the rubber member to rotate the shaft. in unisontherewith. When theshaft is rotated,segmcnt member 36 will also berotated and it is thus seen that communication between the mastercylinder and conduits 'l6 and I1 can thereby be controlled. Also,because of the rubber member it is seen that shaft 32 can be rotated, ifdesired,

by the handle 4|, regardless, of any position of arm 42.. .The yieldingof the rubber of the rubber member will permit relative movement betweenhandle 4| and arm 42. it is thus seen that the valve may be manuallycontrolled by the handle in any manner desired. v

The valve casing 22 is provided with an integral projecting portion 41which is provided with a threaded bore 48, the axis of which is parallelto the axis of shaft 32. Cooperating with this the wheels are so turnedas to make a short tum. Under these conditions both brakes can beapplied at will by operation of the master cylinder.

If the tractor should, for example, be turned sharply to the right andto such an extent that arm. 42 and shaft 32 will be so rotated that thesegment member will cause surface to be engaged with seat 3|, passage IIwill be shut ofl so that the master cylinder cannot communicatetherewith. Thus no fluid under pressure can be transmitted to the leftwheel brake. If 'the master cylinder is now operated, only the rightwheel brake will be applied. This brake application will hold thedriving wheel 2 from turning and permit the tractor to ;pivot aroundthis wheel. It is thus seen that by the braking arrangement sharpturning is considerably aided.

If there should be additional movement of the steering mechanism aftersurface :40 is brought into engagement with seat 3|, the rubber member46 will permit arm 42 to have relative movement with respect to shaft32.

If the steering mechanism is operated to make a sharp turn to the left,then the segment mem-j her 36 will be moved to a position where surface39 engages seat 3|] thus closing 01! the 'conduit' leading to the rightwheel brake. If the brakes are now applied, the left wheel brake onlywill threaded bore is a threaded plug 43 which extendsout of the end ofthe bore and has secured thereto an arm 50. As best seen in Figure 1,this arm extends outwardly to a point behind the gear shift 'lever 2| inorder that the threaded plug 43 may be rotated by the gear shift lever.

Carried by the plug is a plunger 5| which projects out of the end of theplug and is backed by a spring 52 for biasing it in this projectedposition. The integral portion 41 carrying the threaded plug ispositioned so as to be directly beneath the handle 4|. The handle isprovided with an opening 53 so-that when the handle is in its centralposition (the position in which segment member 33 of the valve mechanismpermits free communication from the master cylinder to both conduits I6and I1) said opening will be directly over plunger 5| I and can receivethe plunger if the threaded plu 43 is moved upwardly by a rotationthereof. The upward movement of the plug will only occur when the gearshift'lever is moved rearwardly so 4 a rot-ate arm 50 in acounter-clockwise direcbe applied thereby holding wheel 3 stationary sothat the vehicle can turn around this wheel as a pivot and make thedesired turn.

It, at any time, it is desired to prevent the steering mechanism fromcontrolling the segment member 36 so that both brakes can be appliedsimultaneously regardless of theextent the steering mechanism is turned,this can be accomplished by holding handle 4| in its central positionwhich is the position shown in Figures 1 and 4. Under these conditionsarm 42 will be moved with the steering mechanism but shaft 32 will notturn therewith. The rubber member 43 will .be twisted and permit the armto be moved by the steering mechanism and have the neces-' sary relativemovement with respect to the shaft. J If it should be desired to applythe brake on the outside wheel of the vehicle only when the steeringmechanism is turned, this can be done by the proper movement of thehandle, The segment member 36 can be controlled at will by the handleregardless of the position of, arm 42 as determined by the position ofthe steering mechv be moved up into opening 53 of the handle.

brakes will always that dustor other foreign materials cluded from themoving parts.

ascaao'r" This is found to be 'a very desirable anism. feature sired toturn, as,

since there may be times when it is debrake the wheel on the outside ofthe for example, when said outside wheel is insoggy ground. Under suchcircumstances getting the vehicle out of said soggy ground can befacilitated if the outside wheel (the one in the soggy ground) isbraked.

It has also been discovered that it is highly desirable to prevent thesteering mechanism from controlling the control valve mechanism when thevehicle is being driven on a highway at a fast rate in a high gear. Ifthe steering mechanism should be capable of controlling the valve underthese conditions, a serious accident might vehicle might decide result.The operator of the to make a fairly sharp turn and'at the same timeapply the brakes. If this were done with the valve under the control ofthe steering mechanism, only the inside'wheel would be braked,

thereby increasing the sharpness of the turn and causing the vehicle tomove in an undesired direction. When the vehicle is moving at a highspeed in a high gear, the gear shift lever is employed to cause thevalve mechanism to be locked so that neither brake can-be cut oiif.Whenever the gear shift lever is in a rearward position corresponding tohigh gear, as indicated by the dashedlines in Figure 2, arm 50 will bemoved so as to rotate plug 49 and cause plunger i to This will preventany movement of said handlefrom its central position where both brakesare in direct communication with the master cylinder. Thus it is seenthat under these conditions both be applied whenever the vehicle isbeing driven at a high speed on a highway. -When the gear shift lever isin its forward position-corresponding to low speeds, the valve will beunder the control of the steering mechanism. V

In Figures 5 and 6 I have shown a slightly modified arrangement fortheconnection between the steering mechanism and the valve shaft 32. Inthis arrangement the function of the annular rubber member 46 isreplaced by means of springs. As best shown in Figure 6, shaft 32 isprovided with a pin 55 and arm 42' carries plungers 56 and 51forcooperation with the ends of the pin. The plunger 55 isbiased toengage the pin by a spring 58 and plunger 51 is biased to engage the pinby a spring 59. The springs and plungers are all enclosed within arm 42'in order will be ex- The arm 42 is interposed between the handle 4| andthe closure plug 21 and the outer end of said arm is connected by rod 43to the steering mechanism in the same manner asarm 42 of thepreviouslyidescribed valve mechanism. All the other rts of the valvemechanism are the same as previously described, these parts beingdesignated by the same reference characters. The operation of themodifled construction is the same as the construction shown in Figures 1to 4-. When arm 42' is rotated and handle II is free, shaft 32 will berotated therewith since springs 58 and 59 are oi. such strength thatforce can be transmitted to said shaft. If it is desired to control theshaft and the segment member 36 by hand, the handle Al is turned and oneof the springs is compressed in order to permit relative movementbetween shaft 32 and arm 42'. In the construction shown in Figures -5and'Bthe gear shift lever control-is of my invention, I do not intendsaid manual means.

in the same manner as'disclosed in Figures 1 to 4. Being aware of thepossibility of modifications in the particular structure hereindescribed without departing from the'iundamental principles that itsscope be limited except as set forth by the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I 1 claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

,1. In a vehicle provided with a steering mechanism, with anoperator-operated member forming part of a means for controlling themoving of the vehicle in a normal manner and two driving membersassociated therewith, a braking system for the driving members, meansoperable when the steering mechanism is controlled to turn the vehiclein one direction for so controlling the braking system that when it isoperated only one brake of said driving members will be appliedand whencontrolled to turn the vehicle in the other direction for socontrollinthe braking system that when it is operated the other brake only of saiddriving members will be applied, a lever for manually selectivelyactuating each'of said means, and means operable when theoperator-operated member is in a predetermined condition assumed duringthe controlling of the moving of the vehicle for preventing the steeringmechanism from controlling the braking system, said means includin amanually adjustable detent mechanism engageable with said lever toprevent movement thereof whensaid operatoroperated member is in saidpredetermined condition. I a

2. In a vehicle provided with a steering mechanism, with a change speedgearing and two driving members associated therewith, 'a braking sys-"term for the driving members, means operable when the steering mechanismis controlled to turn the vehicle in one direction for so controllingthe braking system that when it is operated only one brake of saiddriving members will be applied and when controlled to'turn the vehiclein the other direction for so. controlling the braking system that whenit is operated the other brake only of said driving members will beapplied, said means including a lever for manually selectively actuatingsaid means, and means operable when the change speed gearing is in apredetermined condition for preventing the steering mechanism .fromcontrolling the braking system, said means including a manuallyadjustable detent mechanism engageable with said lever to preventmovement thereof when said change speed gearing is in said predeterminedcondition.

'3. In a vehicle provided with a steering mechanism, a change speedgearing and. two driving members associated therewith, a braking systemfor the driving members, means operable when the. steering mechanism iscontrolled to turn the vehicle in one brakin System thahwhen it isoperated only one brake. of said driving members will be applied andwhen controlled to turn the vehicle in the other direction for socontrolling the brakingsystem that when it is operated the other brakeonly of said driving members will be applied, a manual ,means to operatesaid means, and means operable when the change speed gearingis in' oneor its higher speed including a detent mechanism engageable with 4. m avehicle provided with a steering mechdirection for so controlling the Iratios for preventing the steering mechanism from controlling thebraking system anism, a change speed gearing andtwo driving .membersassociated therewith, a braking system for the driving members, meansoperable when the steering mechanism is controlled to turn the vehiclein one direction for so controlling the braking system that when it isoperated only one brake of said driving members will be applied and whencontrolled to turn the vehicle in the other direction for controllingthe braking system that -is in a higher speed ratio for positivelylocking said manually operable means in a position where both drivingmembers can be braked regardless of the condition of the steeringmechanism, said means including a detent mechanism engageable with saidmanually operable means.

5. In a vehicle provided with a dirigible wheel, a steering mechanismtherefor, with an operatoroperated member formin part of a means forcontrolling the moving of the vehicle in a normal manner and withnon-dirigible wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle, a fiuid pressureactuated braking system for'the non-dirigible wheels, valve meansoperable when the dirigible wheel is turned by the steering mechanism inone direction from a central osition for causing the braking system whenoperated to brake only the non-dirigible wheel which is on that side ofthe vehicle corresponding to the direction in which the vehicle is beingturned, other valve means operable when the dirigible wheeliis turned inthe other'direction for causing the}, braking system whenopernon-dirigible wheel which ism that side of the vehicle correspondingto the direction in which 'the vehicle is being turned, other valvemeans operable when the dirigible wheel is turned in the other directionfor causing the braking system when operated to brake only theothernondirigible wheel, and means operable when the change speedgearing is in a predetermined condition for preventing either valvemeans from being placed in an operable position by the steeringmechanism.

8, In a vehicle provided with a dirigible wheel, steering mechanismtherefor and with nondirigible wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle afiuid pressure-actuated braking system for the non-dirigiblewheelscomprising a source of pressure in communication with a brakeactuating device on each wheel, valve means for shutting offcommunication between the source and one brake actuating device, valvemeans for shutting off communication between the source and the otherbrake actuating device, a movable member connected to operate both valvemean and having one position where both valve means are inated to brakeonly the other non-dirigible wheel,

and means operableiwhen the operator-operated member is in apredetermined position assumed during the controlling ofthe moving ofthe vehicle for preventing the steering mechanism from placing eithervalve means in an operable con dition.

6. In a yehicle provided with a dirigible wheel, steering mechanismtherefor, with a change speed gearing and with non-dirigible wheels onopposite sides of the vehicle, a.fiuid pressure actuated braking systemfor the non-dirigible wheels, valve means operable when the dirigiblewheel is turned by the steering mechanism in one direction from acentral position for causing the braking system when operatedtobrakelonly the non-dirigib1e wheel which is' on that side of thevehicle corresponding to the direction in which the vehicle is beingturned, other valve means operable when the dirigible wheel is turned inthe other direction for causing the braking system when operated tobrake only the other nondirigible wheel, means operable at will forholding both valve means inoperable or either valve means operablenotwithstanding any and all movements of the steering mechanism, and

means operable when the change speed gearing is in a predeterminedcondition for preventing either valve from being placed in an operableposition by the steering mechanism.

'7. In a vehicle provided with a dirigible wheel,

' a steering mechanism therefor, with a change speed gearing and withnon-dirigible wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle, a fluid pressureactuated braking system for the non-dirigible wheels, valve meansoperable when the dirigible wheel is'turned-by the steering mechanism inone direction from a central positionfor causing the braking system whenoperated to brake only the operative and positions on opposite sidesthereof where the valve means can be selectively made operative, aconnection between the steering mechanism and the movable member,yieldable means in said connection permitting the steering mechanism tobe moved independently of the member or the member to be movedindependspeed gearing and with non-diri ible wheels on opposite sides ofthe vehicle, a fluid pressure actuated braking system for thenon-dirigible wheels comprising a source of pressure in communicationwith a brake actuating device on each wheel, valve means for shuttingoff communication between, the source and one brake actuating device,valve means for shutting off communication between the source and theother brake actuating device, a movable member connected to operate bothvalve means and having one position where both valve means areinoperative and positions on opposite sides thereof where the valvemeans can be selectively made operative, a connection between thesteering mechanism and the movable member, yieldable means in saidconnection permitting the steering mechanism to be moved independentlyof the member or the member to be moved independently of the steerinmechanism, a manual member connected to the movable member forpermitting the operator tomove the movable member at will without regardto the condition of thesteering mechanism or manually holdit from anymovement by the steering mechanism, and means for positively locking themovable member in its central position when the change speed gearing isin one of its highest gear ratios. v

- 10. In a vehicle provided with a dirigible wheel, steering mechanismtherefor and with nondirigible wheels on opposite sides of the vehicle,

a fluid pressure-actuated braking system for the non-dirigible wheelscomprising a source of pres sure in communication with abrake actuatingdevice on each wheel, valve means for shutting off aeeaaor nected tooperate both valve means and having one position where both valve meansare inoperative and positions on opposite side thereof where the valvemeans can be selectively made operative, a connection between thesteering mechanism and the movable members, yieldable means in saidconnection permitting the steering mechanism to be movedindependently'of the member, and means for positively locking saidmember in a predetermined position so that when the steering mechanism imoved the yieldable meanswill yield and no movement of the memher willtake place.

11. In a vehicle provided with a dirigible wheel, a steering mechanismtherefor, with a change speed gearing and with n'on-dirigible wheels onopposite sides of the vehicle, a fluid pressure actuated braking systemfor the non-dirigible wheels comprising a source of pressure incommunication with a brake actuating device on each wheel, valve meansfor shutting oil! communication between the source and one brakeactuating device, valve means for shutting off eommunication between thesource and theother brake actuating device, a movable member connectedto operate both valve means and having one position where both valvemeans "are inoperative and positions on opposite sides thereof where thevalve means can be selectively made operative, a

device on each wheel, valve means for shutting of! communicationbetweenthe source and one brake actuating device, valve means forshutting oif communication between the. source and the other brakeactuating device, a shaft connected to operate both valve means andhaving one position where both valve means are inoperative and positionson opposite sides thereof where the valve means can be selectively madeoperative, an arm forrotatin'g the shaft, a yieldable connectioncomprising two springs between said arm and the shaft permitting saidshaft to be moved connection between the steering mechanism and' themovable members, yieldable means in'said connection permittingthesteering mechanism to be moved independently of the member, andmeans forpositively locking said member in a position where both valves are openwhen the change speed gearing is in a predetermined speed ratio.

, 12. In a vehicle provided with a dirigible wheel, a steering mechanismtherefor and with non-P dirigible wheels on opposite sides of thevehicle, a fluid pressure actuated braking system for the non-dirigiblewheels comprising a source of pressure in communication with abrakeactuating by the arm but capable of yielding to permit the arm to bemoved independently of the shaft if the shaft is held from turning, aconnection between said arm and the steering mechanism, and a manualmember connected to the shaft whereby the operator can move the shaft atwill by causing a yielding of the yieldable connection.

- 13. In a vehicle provided with aldirigible wheel,

a steering mechanism therefor and with non- .dlrigible-wheels onopposite sides of the vehicle, a fluid pressure actuated braking systemfor the non-dirigible wheels comprising a source of pressure incommunication with a brake actuating device on each wheel, valve meansfor shutting oif communication between the source and one brakeactuating device, valve means for shutting off communication betweenthesource and the other brake actuating device, a shaft'connected tooperate both valve means and having one position where both valve meansare inoperative and positions on opposite sides thereof where the valvemeans can be selectively made operative, an arm for rotating the shaft,a yieldable connection between said arm and the shaft permitting saidshaft to be moved by the arm but capable of yield- I ing to permit thearm to be moved independently of the shaft if the shaft is held fromturning, a connection between said armand the steering mechanism, amanual member connected to the. shaft whereby the operator can move theshaft at will by causing a yielding of the yieldable connection, andmeans for locking saidshaft in the position where both valve means areopen.

' ARTHUR N. MILSTER.

